The semifinals began with a near sellout at the HDC. Maybe a bit disappointing, but still a strong 25,000+. Toyota Park however was sold out by midweek. Another great showing for the league’s championship series.

While the league must be disappointed from a marketing standpoint that Chicago failed to join Los Angeles in MLS Cup ’09, they must also be very pleased about the live attendance to the 2009 playoffs. Leading up the the final match, the 2009 playoffs are the highest attended in league history, more than 3,500 per game higher than the previous top mark of 17,762 in 2007.

I stated last week that I’ll be adopting the Philadelphia Union as my MLS team. The basis for this is nothing more than it’s the last MLS ‘domain’ that I lived in and that there is no professional soccer(MLS, USL-1, USL-2, TOA?) closer than a six+ hour drive from my home. On that note, here is the latest …

6 Responses to Take Me Out to the Playoffs – Week 3

Just want to say well done to the great Chicago Fire fans. A SRO crowd at Toyota Park for the semi-final. Chicago has great fans and with the perspective of watching live sporting events from the 60′s on I’ve seen Ernie Banks, Walter Payton, Michael Jordan and many other great players in a Chicago uniform. I’ve seen the fans fill the parks and stadiums year after year with no championships for the most part to show for it. The love of the Chicago fan for their teams is apparent and beyond doubt. Yet,I must say that Fire fans have become the BEST fans in Chicago. Section 8 worked nights to prepare for the playoff games. Everyone is invited to their tailgate parties. Everyone shows up in a Fire shirt of some kind. The fans forums are packed. When I wear my Fire jersey around the town other Fire fans will come up and talk to you. That happens for no other teams in town. Becoming a Fire fan is becoming a family member.

Fire fans you are winners and you deserve a ring! I can’t wait for the opener.

Yeah, so it’s been 11 years. We want another win for our favorite team. US Open Cups are great, but they aren’t MLS Cup, and the team doesn’t really seem to be taking the competition seriously anymore anyway. If we can’t get MLS Cup, what can we get? Superliga? I think the tournament’s an unnecessary distraction, at least until games get played in Mexico. And without a Cup win or a Supporter’s Shield, the team won’t be playing in CCL. I want an MLS Cup.